Water-level control for boilers



Feb. 21, 1928.

' A. D. BAKER WATER LEVEL CONTROL FOR BOILERS Filed May 18, 1922Patented Feb. 21, 1928.

PATENT OFFICE.

new. BAKER, or swmmon, oino.

WATER-LEVEL common iron BOILERS.

Application filed May 18, 1922. Serial No. 561,948.

This invention relates to means for use in connection with steamengines, for returnmg the water of condensation from the exhaust steamcondenser to the associated boiler and maintaining an approximatelyconstant normal level of water in the boiler.

An object of the invention is the provis1on in combination with a steamengine and its boiler, ofsimple and eflicient means for continuallyreturning the water of condensation from the exhaust steam of the engineto the boiler and which is automatically operable to introduce freshwater into the boiler as. the water therein diminishes by reason byleakage, or from other causes, whereby the supply of water in the boileris approximately maintained constant, thus enhancing the efliciency ofthis type of apparatusand rendering, the use of steam engines inautomobiles, trucks and tractors highly practicable and eflicient.Further objects and advantages ofthe invention will be apparent from thefollowing detailed descriptionl thereof. 1

While the invention in its broader aspect is capable of embodiment innumerous forms, a preferred embodiment thereof is illustrated inthe inwhich,

Figure 1 is a side view of a steam tractor embodying the invention withparts broken away and removed, and Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectionaldetail of the double pump used-in connection with the invention.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a tractor frame supported bywheels 2 and having a boiler 3 mounted on its rear end, and an engine 4and exhaust steam condenser 5 mounted on its forward end. A pipe 6connects the engine exhaust with the conaccompanying drawings,

- .denser.

The boiler 3, in the present instance. is of the watertube type and hasa steam drum 7 t at its top and is providedbelow its normal water linewith a header 8, which has connection through pipes 9 with a series ofheaders 10 for the water tubes. rangement of the headers and tubes isimmaterial so far as the present invention is concerned andma-y bechanged tosuit the particular boiler construction desired.

In carrying out the feature of my 1nvention a pump casing 11 is securedto the frame 1 at a side of the engine and forms, in the presentinstance, two separate pump The, ar-

cylinders 12 and 13 in which respective p istons 14 operate. Thesepistons are connectto a common rocker lever 15, which is in turnconnected by a link 16 to an operating crank 17 of the en: 'ne. The pumpcylin der 12 has its. inta e passage 18 in checkvalve controlledcommunication with the bottom of the condenser 5 through a pi 19. Theoutlet passage 20 of the cylind 12 is in check-valve controlledcommunica' tion through a pipe 21 with a pipe 22in communication atoneend with the header 8 through an outwardly openin check valve 23 andanormally open manually controlled valve 24 therein. The pipe 21 isprovided with a check-valve 25. It is thus evident that operation of thepump piston14 will effect a positive feeding of the water of condensation from the condenser 5, back to the boiler s stem, the waterbeing introduced into suc system in the present instance at the header8. y y

- The pump cylinder 13 has its inlet side in check-valve controlledcommunication through a pipe 26 with the bottom of a water storage tank27 which is carried below the boiler in the tractor frame 1. The outletside of the cylinder 13 is in check-valve con trolled communicationthrou ha pipe 28 with a pipe 29, which leads own into the top of thetank 27, the communication between the pipes 28 and 29being controlledby a thermostatic valve 30. The thermostat 31 of the. valve is. incommunication with a portion of the boiler circulating system, in thepresent instance, witha pipe 32 which extends from the steam drum 7 tothe header 8, the connection of the thermostat with said pipe beingslightly below the normal level of the water in the boiler so that whenthe water in the boiler lowers s i htly below normal steam will beadmitted to the thermostat to effect an expansion thereof and a closinofthe valve 30. Upon aclosin of the Va ve 30 the water which is pumped from thetank 27 and forced up through the pipe 28 can no longer return tothe tank throu h the by-pass pipe 29and is requiredto ta 0 anothercourse, which in the present instance is through a pipe 33 into the pipe22 from whence it passes into the boiler through the header 8. Thepassage through the pipe 33 is normally closed by a cheek-valve 34,which opens under pressure of the pump 13, 14 when the valve 30 isclosed. The

water continues to be pumped from the tank 27 in this manner into theboiler until the boiler water is returned to normal level, and shutsoii' the steam to the thermostat 31, thereby permitting a cooling of thethermostat and a consequent opening of the valve 30, after which the,water which is pumped from the tank 2'? is returned thereto through thepipe 29 until the water supply has again lowered sufficiently to permitan operation of the thermostat to close the valve 30. 35 is a handcontrolled valve to be used when valve 30 fails to work, and also forraising the water level in boiler before shutting engine down.

It is evident in the use of a boiler equipped with my invention that ifthe engine associated therewith is using 100 lbs. of steam or a muchlarger or smaller amount, the water level in'the boiler will remain thesame becausethere is always the same amount of water returned to theboiler that the engine takes out except in case of leaks. Ifthe water inthe boiler falls below normal by reason ofleak's or from any othercause, the thermostatic valveBO is-closed causing the water which ispumped from the supply tank 27 and which would otherwise be returnedthereto,'to be forced'into the boiler through a check valve controlledline. 1 So long as the water in'the boiler is of the proper height, thethermostatic valve remainsopen'so that the water pumped 'from the supplytank 27 1s continually returned thereto. .An advantage of my inventionis that the water returned to the boiler from the condenser is at atemperature of nearly 212 11, thereby obviating the necessity of using areheater in connection with the (2X- haust. lVith my invention theundesirable spasmodic system of-water supply to the boiler heretoforeused'is avoided and a constant flow ofwater at all times to the boiler,to maintain the norma-l water level therein, 1s insuredL' I I wish itunderstood that my invention is notlimited to "any specificconstruction, arrangementor form of the parts, as it-is capable ofembodiment in numerous forms without departing from the spiritof theclaims. 1 4 Having thus described my invention, What l claim as new anddesii'eto secure by Letters Patent, is, I

1; In combination, a steam boiler, means operated by:steam fromtheboiler, a condenser for receiving the exhaust steam from theoperating means. means operable to positively and directly return allwater of condensation from the condenser to the boiler, a source ofwater supply, a line of communication extending from the source ofsupply and then back to the same and having a check valve controlled incommunication with the boiler, 21 thermostatic valve in said lineoperable to close the same when the water level in the boiler fallsbelow a predeminc-d point and thereby prevent the return of waterthrough the line to the supply means, and means in said line forcontinually effecting a circulation of water from the source of supplyand back to the same when the thermostatic valve is open and forcing thewater through the check-valve controlled communication to the boilerwhen said valve is closed. r

2. In combination, a steam boiler, means operated by steam from theboiler, a .condenser for receiving the exhaust steam from the operatingmeans, means-operable to positively and directly return all water ofcondensation from the condenser to the boiler, a water supply tank, apipe line leading from the tank and back to the same, a nor mally openvalve in said line automatically operable to close the line when thewater level in the boiler falls belowa predetermined point, said linehaving check-valve controlled communication with the boiler at a pointintermediate the supplytank and automatic valve, and. means. continuallyoperable to create a circulation of water from the supply tank throughsaid line and back to the tank when the automatic valve isopen andthrough the check-valve controlled communication to the boiler whenvthey automatic valveis closed. 1 j a i i 3. In combinationwith asteamgenerating means, means actuated by the steam therefrom, means forcondensing the exhaust steam from the steam-actuated 'means, a make-upwater supply, a pair of pumps having a single actuating means operableby the steam actuated means, one pump continuously returning the waterof condensation from the condensing means as delivered thereto by thesteam actuated'means back to the steam generating means and the otherpump supplying make-up water to the steam generating means, and meansfor permitting the said other pump to function When the water in thesteam generating means falls below a predetermined level.

i. In combinationwith steam generating means and means actuated by thesteam therefrom, a condenser to receive the exhaust steam from saidsteam-actuated means, means to convey the water of condensation from thecondenser to the steam generating means, a source of water supply, meansto convey water from the said source of water supply to the steamgenerating means, means connected to the last named conveying means toby-pass the water fromthe source of water supply back to thelatter,means in the bypass to shut off the passage of water therethrough, andmeans controlled by the level of the water in the steam generating meansto operate said shutoff means thereby to cause the water from the sourceof supply ion ing means and means actuated by the steamy therefrom, acondenser to receive the exhaust steam from said steam-actuated means,means to convey the Waterof condensation from the condenser to the steamgenerating means, a source of water supply, means to convey water fromthesaid source of water supply to the steam generating means,meansconnected tothe last named conveying means to by-passthe water from thesource of water supply back to the latter, means in the by-passto shutoff the assage of water therethrough, means contro led by the level ofthe water in the steam enerating means a to operate said shut off meansthereby to a cause the water from the source of supply to enter thesteam generating means when the level of the water in the latter fallsbelow a predetermined level, a pump associated with each of the Waterconveying means, and a single means to actuate each of the pumps inunison.

In testimony whereof I have hereuntosuhscribed my name to thisspecification.

ABNER 1 BAKER.

